Seven people who face multiple drug-related charges after police allegedly broke up a methamphetamine distributing operation. The alleged operation was taking place relatively close to an elementary school in Drexel, North Carolina, which is a town not far from Statesville.

Two of the people who were arrested lived at and owned the home that was the target of the police raid. Upon entering the home, police allegedly found 30 grams of meth in the home, as well as drug paraphernalia and cash.

According to authorities, the police originally targeted this couple’s home because of a tip they received. Following up on the tip, police say they successfully arranged for a controlled drug buy. Police also reportedly determined that there was a possibility that some of the suspects had access to firearms, although there was no report of weapons being discovered at the time of the police raid. Using the information they gathered, police obtained a search warrant of the couple’s home.

Each of the seven suspects received a $500,000 bond after the local magistrate formally charged them with several crimes. Many of these crimes are felonies that can land these people in prison for a long time. Additionally, they also face steep fines, strict probation and other serious consequences.

Even though the police did obtain a search warrant for the home, there still may be a number of defenses available to these suspects. For instance, even if the search warrant is valid, some of these suspects may have simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time and, in reality, have nothing to do with the manufacturing of meth.

The people who stand accused of these crimes have a lot at stake in the upcoming weeks as the charges get resolved. And, they will probably want to consult with an experienced North Carolina criminal law attorney about their case and the legal options available to them.

Source: The News Herald, “Drexel Elementary on soft lockdown during drug bust; suspects face more charges,” Ryan Wlusz, March 22, 2018.